After a long hot summer day, cool summer evenings are a welcome reward.
Lately I have been able to get out and ride after all the noise and hustle and
bustle have calmed down, and the memories of rides of old have flooded my
thoughts. Rides with friends, heading out of town after meeting for a cold
one-ice cream that is, and then heading out where the streetlights end, and the
stars light the way. Where you can truly hear the sound of your exhaust singing
a special tune that you can’t hear during the day, and stopping by a pond,
listening to the crickets, and bullfrogs, as they begin their evening
serenades. I often have been amused by how in the dark I can hear more, maybe
it is because of less background noise, or maybe because I have to pay more
attention, but no matter the excuse, my senses seem to be amplified. Sitting
quietly by the side of the road, you can hear the sounds of the engine as it
cools down, the exhaust pinging as the metals sing while cooling down, and how
you can tell a Harley from a Honda, even though they may be miles away. How
voices seem to carry from farmhouses where their lights are dimly seen, and you
find yourself talking softly. All because it is dark, and it is a summer
evening.
I can remember riding enduros with only a 6 volt headlight to guide,
recognizing things only after you had passed them-maybe you can ride faster than
the speed of light. How when I bought my R90S with its H-4 halogen headlight,
suddenly you could see where you were going, and your friends wanted you to
lead. And last night riding home on the 2014 Explorer XC with driving lights
nothing was left to chance not being seen. I can remember parking with a girl
friend, then walking with her away from the bike, and foolishly leaving the
parking lights on-and coming back to a dead battery. No way to impress a date,
worse than the old “I ran out of gas excuse,” which I never tried. But without
everything being electric, and still in the age of kick starters, you got home
safe and sound, battery recharged, and waiting for tomorrow night to come. This
time no lights, in reverence to electric starting. Such is romance. But summer
nights seem to bring out the best in people, even when we just sit on our front
porch. And as you watch the neighbor’s bedroom lights go dark, you wish them a
sweet sleep, while you just sit and reflect. A certain peace is found at night,
one that no matter the days circumstances, finds you. Whether it is clock
driven, sun driven, or night time driven, shaft or chain driven,
it doesn’t matter. Things are different when the lights go down, the
headlights come on, and the road leads out of town to nowhere.
And so we long for peaceful evenings, when all seems right with the world.
But I find a promise of Jesus that doesn’t require after hours participation.
He promises you peace, an early inheritance gift from Him if you will. For no
matter the situation, He is that peace. In the storm, He was able to still it
by just talking to it. While the disciples would be fretting, He could sleep.
Day or night, no matter the circumstance. Maybe that is the peace that summer
evenings call to me, and I am thankful for them. But I am even more thankful
for the peace that can travel with me at any time, anywhere, day or night. Even
when not riding. A peace that accentuates the sounds of nature at night, and
gives me time to look at the stars-which He knows by name. To watch for a
falling star, listen to the bullfrog wooing a mate, and fireflies dancing in the
dark. An isolation without the isolation, just being with Jesus makes it all
right.
It is at the times of no peace that we can return to Jesus, and find that
special peace that only He can provide. Roads seem to go on longer, the stars
are brighter, and the one you love hanging on to you in the curves seem more
romantic. “Peace I leave with you,” Jesus tells us, maybe that is why just
having Him in my life makes life more special. A peace that no trip to Hawaii,
no bonus check, no new motorcycle, or summer night can replace. It takes Him in
the midst of it to make it special-for He is that peace-He is peace.
Today we get bombarded with peace signs, peace talks, and politicians
talking of peace agreements. As Christians we already have all of them, for
peace is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of God. Lost that
peace, stop and ask Him back-He never left, nor did His peace, you did. And
then go out, fire up the bike, and go for a ride. Just you and Jesus, on a
summer night, on road that must go somewhere, but the where is not as important
as the who. It never is when the who is Jesus. Maybe that is why the wise old
owl is always asking “WHO?” He knows who is the peace, do you? Maybe he is
just a reminder asking you to reconsider Jesus. Don’t try to understand it-just
go with it. Summer nights only last for a season, Jesus lasts forever. Now
about that ride....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com